RADIO
Tobe Awaka Available for Friday's Matchup With Milwaukee
Chicago Bulls forward Tobe Awaka (knee) is available for Friday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 22-year-old undrafted rookie from Arizona was also listed on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's loss to the Toronto Raptors but ended up playing. Awaka finished with two points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block in 14 minutes. While his rebounding is encouraging, his limited playing time makes him a risky option in most fantasy formats.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Norman Powell Goes 10-for-12 at the Line in Preseason Loss to Memphis
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Norman Powell scored 17 points in 19 minutes during Friday's 104-100 preseason loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He shot 3-for-6 from the field and 1-for-2 from three while adding three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Most of his damage came at the line, where he went 10-for-12. The 33-year-old has now scored 31 points in roughly 33 preseason minutes after putting up 14 against Phoenix. On a young Bulls roster featuring Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, Powell's ability to draw fouls gives him another path to steady scoring even when his outside shot isn't falling.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Matas Buzelis Exits Friday's Preseason Contest Early
K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports that Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (ankle) exited Friday's preseason contest against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game with a right ankle injury. Buzelis finished with six points and one block in 12 minutes. If the injury doesn't sideline him for long, the 21-year-old could play a significant role in Chicago's offense this season. He averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last campaign, making him an intriguing fantasy option heading into 2026-27.
Source: K.C. Johnson
Source: K.C. Johnson
Jordan Hawkins Signs Two-Way Deal with Bulls
Free-agent guard/forward Jordan Hawkins is signing a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Memphis waived the former No. 14 pick Friday, less than a month after acquiring him from New Orleans. Hawkins reunites with Bulls executive Bryson Graham, who was in the Pelicans' front office when he was drafted in 2023. The 24-year-old averaged 5.1 points in 13.6 minutes while shooting 34.8 percent from three across 51 games last season. With Norman Powell, Isaac Okoro, and rookie Dailyn Swain among Chicago's perimeter options, Hawkins could spend significant time with the Windy City Bulls and would likely need injuries or a rotation opening to gain fantasy relevance.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Matas Buzelis Plans to Attack the Rim More in Year 3
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis expects more offensive freedom under new head coach Tiago Splitter and wants to attack the rim more this season, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. The 21-year-old said he focused on adding strength after feeling he settled for too many three-pointers last year. Buzelis averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 34.9 percent from three and 58.3 percent on two-point attempts. More drives and midrange work could help him get to the line more often while improving his shot selection. With Josh Giddey and rookie Caleb Wilson also needing touches, Buzelis finding better scoring opportunities could be key to another step forward.
Source: Joel Lorenzi
Source: Joel Lorenzi
Buddy Hield Traded to Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are acquiring guard/forward Buddy Hield and cash from the Charlotte Hornets for Rob Dillingham, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. It's Hield's second trade in four days after Charlotte acquired him from Atlanta earlier in the week. The 33-year-old averaged a career-low 7.6 points and 1.5 threes in 16.1 minutes across 51 games with Golden State and Atlanta last season. Hield gives Chicago another perimeter shooter, but Norman Powell is expected to start alongside Josh Giddey in the backcourt. Hield averaged 11.1 points and 2.5 triples in 22.7 minutes in 2024-25, though his fantasy appeal in Chicago will depend on earning enough reserve minutes.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Josh Giddey Says Consistency is the Bulls' Missing Piece
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey believes the roster has enough talent to reach the playoffs, but he told DJ Siddiqi of ClutchPoints that consistency will decide whether Chicago climbs the Eastern Conference. "I think it's a matter of doing it every night," Giddey said. The 23-year-old is coming off a career-best season, averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.3 rebounds in 32.1 minutes across 54 games. He also underwent right ankle surgery in May but has since been cleared for 5-on-5 work with no restrictions. Norman Powell gives Chicago another scorer, while Nicolas Claxton and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson should give Giddey more finishing targets. The missed games still matter, but his assists, rebounds, and role under Tiago Splitter keep the fantasy ceiling high.
Source: DJ Siddiqi
Source: DJ Siddiqi
Matas Buzelis Adds Strength Ahead of Year 3
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis told Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady that he added roughly 12 pounds this offseason and hired a personal chef to help keep the weight on. Bulls On SI's Elias Schuster noted that Buzelis wants to play through more contact and cut down on his three-point volume after taking 6.4 attempts per game last season. The 21-year-old nearly doubled his scoring in Year 2, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. The added strength could help his finishing and rebounding, though Chicago's frontcourt now includes rookie Caleb Wilson and Nicolas Claxton. Buzelis still has breakout appeal, but the Bulls' crowded rotation keeps his fantasy ceiling tied to minutes.
Source: Elias Schuster
Source: Elias Schuster
Norman Powell Says Heat Never Made Offer
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Norman Powell pushed back at Heat fans on X after criticism of his free-agency exit, saying Miami "never offered anything," according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. The 33-year-old landed a two-year, $45 million deal with Chicago after the Heat were squeezed by the first-apron hard cap following their trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Powell also exchanged posts with Portis while defending his decision. The move should give Powell a cleaner scoring path in Chicago, where he joins Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Nicolas Claxton on a roster that needed shooting. After averaging 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals on 47.0 percent shooting and 38.0 percent from three, Powell carries useful points-and-threes appeal if his role holds.
Source: Anthony Chiang
Source: Anthony Chiang
Dailyn Swain Struggles to Find Shot Against Jazz
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Dailyn Swain finished Monday's 80-63 Summer League loss to the Utah Jazz with four points, nine rebounds and one assist in 30 minutes, going 0-for-9 from the field, 0-for-2 from deep and 2-for-3 at the line. The No. 15 pick has opened Vegas at 3-for-19 across two games, so the offensive adjustment is real. Swain led Texas in points, rebounds, assists, and steals last season, which keeps the long-term fantasy appeal tied to versatility rather than scoring alone. For now, the rebounding is the cleanest early category while the shot profile catches up.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Leonard Miller Stays with Bulls on $2.4 Million Option
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Chicago Bulls picked up the $2.4 million team option on forward Leonard Miller. The former second-round pick played well after arriving in Chicago at the trade deadline, averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game across 27 appearances for the organization. However, he will face heavy competition for playing time in the frontcourt this season alongside Patrick Williams, Matas Buzelis, and incoming rookie Caleb Wilson. Although Miller produced well down the stretch, he likely needs to carve out a consistent rotation role to become a reliable fantasy performer.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Chicago Adds Another Forward in Dailyn Swain in NBA Draft
The Chicago Bulls selected Texas forward Dailyn Swain with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Swain is the second first-round pick for the Bulls, joining forward Caleb Wilson in the Windy City. New general manager Bryson Graham is swinging for upside in his first draft leading the team. Swain, who had a wide range of landing spots in mock drafts, is the type of wing that teams covet: He's 6'7" and brings switchability to the defensive side of the ball. His shot is a work in progress, but he excels at cutting to the basket. Swain finished his junior season at Texas averaging 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Matas Buzelis Will Play for Lithuania This Summer
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis will make his debut for the Lithuanian national team this summer, according to Eurohoops. The 21-year-old is scheduled to participate in FIBA World Cup qualifying games in July. This presents a strong developmental opportunity, as the increased physicality of international play could help him further refine his skill set. The extra reps should be highly beneficial for Buzelis, who took a significant step forward during his sophomore campaign. He averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. If he continues to progress this summer, Buzelis could be an even more reliable fantasy performer heading into his third NBA season.
Source: Stefan Acevski
Source: Stefan Acevski
